The chef gladly lent the kitchen. With his stout metallic body, he laughed heartily and left the Schale dining hall, saying it was a long-awaited vacation. After seeing him off himself, Kenji approached Fuuka and Juri who were inside the kitchen.
He roughly understood the whole story. The tale of the Gourmet Research Club kidnapping these two and forcing them to be today's daily cooks was enough to touch the tiny bit of conscience Kenji had left. He watched them busily moving ingredients and forced a bitter smile.
"If you don't want to, you can go back."
At Kenji's voice, the two turned their heads towards him. Kenji looked alternately at the red eyes and emerald eyes and continued.
"It might not be perfect, but with Schale's authority, I can block the Gourmet Research Club from approaching you. If you're afraid of retaliation, I'll block that too. Since you were forcibly kidnapped, I'll do at least that much for you."
Schale's authority is quite versatile. If you have the status of a student, no matter which academy you belong to, you can be enrolled in the Schale club, and even if you cause trouble in the academy autonomous district, the academy leadership cannot arbitrarily restrain you. Rather, they have to cooperate, and they dare not even dream of restraint.
Schale's authority was that powerful. So, blocking two clubs from contacting each other was as easy as breathing. But Fuuka smiled slightly and shook her head. It was a clear expression of refusal.
"I appreciate the thought, but you don't need to go that far. The Gourmet Research Club are also Gehenna students like me, and if they can't meet me, they won't even be able to enter the cafeteria. I don't want that."
"......"
"Moreover...... the reason I was caught today is to cook, right? Then it's fine. I like cooking...... and I heard it's cooking for someone who can't taste, so with such good intentions, it seems okay to be caught a few times."
Fuuka put down the ingredients she was holding. Ah, she let out a short exclamation and shook her head.
"W-well, I take back what I said last. No matter what, this should be the end."
"You're a good person."
Kenji muttered that with a faint smile. Juri nodded as if in agreement, and Fuuka blushed and took out a cutting board and kitchen knife. The kitchen knife, gleaming in the light, was placed on the cutting board.
"I-it's not really like that. Just......"
"Ahaha, Fuuka senpai is embarrassed!"
Juri said with a clear laugh. Fuuka groaned and hung her head low. Her reddened face seemed to steam. Kenji chuckled and opened the kitchen door.
"I understand Fuuka's intention. Then, I'll leave the cooking to you."
"Yes......"
Leaving behind Fuuka who dragged out the end of her words, Kenji trudged towards the table where six people were sitting. Centered around a long table suitable for an ordinary cafeteria, the Gourmet Research Club and the seven were sitting facing each other. Kenji plopped down between Wakamo and Akira. The round chair sank slightly under the weight.
The light coming from outside the window was warm. The wind blowing from the open window met the warm light, offering a pleasant coolness.
"Because environment is also important in gourmet."
Looking at Kenji who brushed back his fluttering bangs, Haruna opened her mouth. She narrowed her eyes into crescent moons and carefully removed the hat she was wearing. That series of actions was very elegant. It was no less than Akira's.
"The level of food is, of course, important. But more than that, the atmosphere of the restaurant, the attitude and service of the staff, the scent, the interior, etc. There are elements as important or even more important than the cooking. And this place fits those conditions very well."
Haruna glanced around. Kenji also turned his head and took in the wide dining hall.
"The walls made of white marble and the black ceiling and floor create a clean and calm atmosphere. But the tables and chairs are crude. The atmosphere and furniture arrangement don't match, but such dissonance often gives a pleasant impression. This place is like that. It's well made."
Haruna grinned and fluttered her single small wing.
"On top of that, the light pouring from the blue sky, beautiful clouds, and the wind carrying the scent of spring and summer. There's no place more perfect than this. It's a place I like more than any ordinary restaurant."
After Haruna's lengthy explanation, Kenji looked at her with a very unexpected gaze.
The image of Haruna in Kenji's mind was just a crazy woman. A crazy woman who blew up a train because the in-flight meal was tasteless. It wasn't particularly a wrong image. Objectively thinking, a terrorist who blows up a train is indeed a crazy woman.
But he didn't know she had such deep thoughts. He thought she was just a woman who would pass if the food was tasty, or throw a fit if not. It seems she has her own worldview about gourmet.
Of course, that doesn't justify her terrorism. The image of Haruna in Kenji's mind didn't change much. She just evolved from a crazy woman to a crazy woman with convictions. It wasn't a very good evolution......
"......More than that, today is a weekday, is it okay if you don't go to school? If absences pile up, it might be inconvenient in various ways."
"In Gehenna, attendance is free. It doesn't matter if you don't go, that's what it means!"
Junko answered with a triumphant expression as if saying something great. Kenji nodded as if he understood.
'Attendance is free.'
Considering the characteristics of Gehenna Academy, it wasn't that special. To begin with, there are hardly any students who properly wear uniforms, and there are more students roaming the streets than students moving inside the academy. So, it was fully understandable that attendance is free.
'It's the complete opposite of Trinity in many ways.'
Is that why they don't get along? Kenji idly thought of Nagisa and Hina who were preparing the treaty and let out a small sigh.
Nagisa, as the host of the Tea Party, must be doing a lot of things right now, and Hina is handling Gehenna's paperwork on behalf of the low-intelligence Makoto. Probably, the hardships they are experiencing are no small matter.
"When will the food come out?"
"Fufu, it should be out soon. Izumi. The food Fuuka is preparing will be excellent in both quantity and quality, I'm sure."
Kenji listened to Haruna and Izumi's conversation with one ear and let it pass, turning his head towards the window.
A few minutes later. Fuuka and Juri came out of the kitchen with the food. The appetizing smell that immediately wafted over turned everyone's gaze towards the two.
Fuuka and Juri were each holding a tray; on Fuuka's tray, there was steaming soup, rice, and a main dish made of pork. The pork, which seemed seasoned with soy sauce, was enough for several people to eat. The soup and rice were also prepared according to the number of people.
The tray Juri was holding was full of side dishes. They were side dishes you might see in home cooking. Kenji wondered how they completed so many dishes in such a short time, but realizing that the two were in charge of Gehenna's meals, he nodded.
They were pros at making large quantities of food. Since they prepare meals for hundreds of people by themselves, making food for less than ten people wouldn't be that difficult.
"Sorry to keep you waiting! The food is ready!"
Juri said with a beaming smile. The Gourmet Research Club members, except Izumi, noticed that there were no peculiarly looking foods on the tray she was holding and let out sighs of relief. Then they started whispering among themselves.
"There's no live-moving food."
"It seems Juri didn't make the food. That's a relief."
"But later, Kenji might have to eat it. Will it be okay?"
The three's gaze briefly turned towards Kenji. Kenji looked at them as if asking why, but the three said nothing. Instead, they looked at the foods being placed on the table and bloomed smiles on their faces.
"......Hmm. This is......"
"The quality is quite high. I'd believe it if you said she's a veteran chef."
Wakamo and Akira also stared at the dishes on the table and nodded.
But Kenji's reaction was lukewarm. The smell was good. It naturally made saliva pool in the mouth, and his stomach screamed to immediately put those in, enough to stimulate appetite. Surely, the taste would be excellent enough not to disappoint expectations.
But so what? He can't taste it. Kenji sighed deeply inside and picked up his chopsticks. The reason he couldn't sigh directly was that he didn't want to act as if ignoring the two who prepared the food.
"Sorry it took so long. The ingredients were in good condition, so I got a bit greedy......"
"Fufu, it's okay, Fuuka. With this quantity and quality, I can fully understand."
"Then I'm glad. Ah, the dishes I made today are a combination of side dishes you might see in home cooking with a Western-style main......"
Fuuka carefully explained the dishes she made to everyone. Wakamo and Akira listened to the explanation with one ear, but the Gourmet Research Club and Kenji listened somewhat intently.
After the brief explanation. As Fuuka and Juri sat in the empty seats, they said.
"Then, please enjoy the meal."
"Enjoy!"
Kenji and the Gourmet Research Club thanked the two and slowly started the meal.
Wakamo, because she didn't want to reveal her face in front of others, didn't remove her mask and couldn't eat, but Akira picked up food with her chopsticks. It wasn't fast, but seeing her continue to use chopsticks, it seemed she liked it somewhat.
The Gourmet Research Club also moved their utensils. Izumi busily picked up side dishes and meat to eat, Junko dropped her chopsticks on the floor. Haruna continued the meal with elegant gestures, and Akari was elegant like Haruna, but ate the food at a faster speed than her.
Kenji watched that and started the meal a bit later than others.
He scooped up rice with chopsticks and brought it to his mouth. Then he picked up a piece of pork and ate it.
But as always, no taste was felt. Only the unique texture of rice and meat existed.
Since there was no expectation, there was no disappointment. Kenji forced a bitter smile and ate just enough to fill his stomach. After the luxurious meal time ended, Haruna wiped her mouth with a napkin and asked Kenji.
"How was it? Could Fuuka's cooking give a slight stimulus to your sense of taste?"
"No."
He thought about lying, but Kenji just honestly said.
"It has no taste at all."
"......Even with Fuuka's cooking, you can't taste...... it can't be helped."
Haruna said that and turned her head to look at Juri.
"Juri."
"Yes, yes?"
"Bring Juri's dish. You made one separately, right?"
"That...... yes. I made a little by myself......"
"Where is it?"
"I confined it in a pot......"
Kenji was listening to their conversation without much thought when he cocked his head at the sudden sense of incongruity.
'Confined the dish?'
What on earth does that mean? It's an expression as if the dish might run away.
But before Kenji could resolve his doubt, Juri returned from the kitchen with a pot. At the same time, fear clouded the eyes of the Gehenna students except Izumi.
"I'll open it."
Juri swallowed saliva and grabbed the pot lid. Then she slowly lifted it. That sight was similar to taking out an artificially created monster in a sci-fi movie. Even Kenji tensed up to the point of sharpening his senses due to the overwhelming realism.
But what was inside the pot was ordinary soup.
The smell was unique. Except for the fish head floating and tentacles that looked like octopus legs wriggling like live octopus, the visual was somewhat acceptable. Of course, those two took up a very large portion, but Kenji thought it wasn't to the extent of making a fuss as if seeing a creature.
Then it happened. The fish soaked in the soup flapped its body greatly. Red soup splattered everywhere, and everyone screamed and stepped back. Only Juri and Izumi stood there looking down at the soup.
"Hey, be quiet!"
"Wow! It must be a very fresh fish! It's still alive!"
Izumi shouted with shining eyes. Kenji was highly suspicious whether this was really a matter related to freshness, but he calmly composed himself.
"What...... is this dish?"
"It's dongtae stew."
"......Is the fish used in ordinary dongtae stew alive even after boiling?"
"Ah, probably not......?"
Juri trailed off. Kenji looked down at the wriggling fish and the tentacles holding it with a very perplexed expression.
Certainly, it seemed like eating this might bring back his lost sense of taste. Or not, but the probability didn't seem high. It's a stew with a live fish moving......
"......"
After a brief thought, Kenji made a determined expression and lifted his spoon. And he scooped a little of the something called "dongtae stew".
Well, no matter how bad the condition, since she made it with sincerity, if she hadn't shown it, it would be one thing, but since she brought it directly, it was etiquette to eat at least a little. After all, the reason she was kidnapped here was because of him, and as compensation, eating a bit of a failed dish wasn't a difficult thing.
Moreover, by eating this, there might be a possibility of regaining his sense of taste.
It's better to gamble than to do nothing. Kenji thought so and nodded.
"......I'll eat it."
Thus.
Under everyone's gaze, Kenji brought the spoonful of soup to his mouth.
Hot liquid touches his tongue. Kenji rolled the soup that entered his mouth here and there to feel the taste. But no particular taste was felt. Nor did his body send any warning signals, so it seemed that apart from the weird visual, it was just ordinary soup.
He put the spoon on the table and opened his mouth to indicate that it was nothing special.
"......It looks peculiar, but I still can't feel any taste at aaaaaaah!"
Thud!
Kenji hit his head on the table and fainted.
*
After the Millennium Prize ended. Yuuka, leaving a word that she would often visit the Game Development Club, boarded the train returning to Schale. After about an hour of travel, she arrived at the outskirts of the Union District where Schale is located.
'I shouldn't go empty-handed?'
Yuuka thought as she got off the train.
While she was away, Kenji handled Schale's work alone. But Schale's workload is too much for one person to handle. Even working alone for a few days would require overtime and all-nighters as a baseline, and since he handled it alone for several weeks, it was natural to feel sorry. No, beyond sorry, she felt guilt.
'I should buy him a gift.'
She didn't know if Kenji would find comfort in that, but it was better than shamelessly apologizing only with words. Thinking so, Yuuka stopped by a department store and bought several sets of clothes for Kenji. Each one was a luxury brand.
Even considering Yuuka's considerable monthly salary, it was an expenditure that required some bleeding, but Yuuka didn't regret it at all. If she couldn't make this level of expenditure for a student who worked hard for several weeks, she was disqualified as a teacher.
'I hope he likes it.'
Yuuka swung the shopping bag in her hand and moved her steps towards the Schale building. On the way, she stopped by a nearby pizza shop and bought one large pizza.
Since Kenji informed her that Schale had new members, it was to eat together and build friendships. The easiest way to become friends is to eat together. Fortunately, the time was around lunch, so it was just right.
Thus, Yuuka returned to Schale with a pizza and shopping bags full of clothes.
At that time, a robot with a hearty impression waved at Yuuka.
"Teacher!"
"Oh, Chef? Where are you coming from?"
He was the chef in charge of Schale's kitchen. He laughed heartily and entered Schale with Yuuka.
"I had a bit of break time. I went to see a friend."
"Break time? But isn't Schale's dining hall always leisurely?"
"That's a bit different. Kenji asked to borrow the kitchen, so I lent it and went for a walk in the city."
"Kenji borrowed the kitchen?"
Yuuka cocked her head. The chef patted his protruding belly with his palm and said.
"Yes. He seemed to be doing something with Gehenna students."
"Hmm...... perhaps to treat them to food?"
"I don't know well. But if you want to meet him, it's better to go to the dining hall. Since not much time has passed, he should still be there."
"I see...... then, Chef, will you come along?"
"I'm thinking of stopping by the convenience store. Unfortunately, I think you'll have to go alone."
At his words, Yuuka nodded.
The two moved together a bit more, then Yuuka went to the dining hall, and the chef went to the convenience store, parting ways.
A few minutes later, Yuuka arrived at the dining hall. She opened the dining hall door without hesitation and went inside.
"Kenji! And our new members! The teacher is back!"
Yuuka shouted in a bright voice.
But what returned was not a welcome but a battlefield full of screams and gunfire.
"Pull yourself together, cult leader! What kind of poison do you need to feed someone to make them like this?!"
"Guh, ugh, ugh."
A girl with white hair and a mask like one from a masquerade held the shoulders of Kenji who had his face buried in the table and shouted. Kenji, with his eyes rolled back, kept spouting strange syllables.
"How dare you! My husband! For that sin, you deserve to die a thousand, no, ten thousand times!"
"Kyaaaaah!!! I'm sorry, I'm sooorryyy!"
A girl with a fox mask was firing her gun and chasing a pink-haired girl.
"It went there! Catch it!"
"Wait, moving fish! I'll eat you deliciously!"
"It became one with the tentacles! Is that, is that actually possible?!"
"Ufufu, as expected of Juri."
"Everyone, shut up! Ah, Haruna! It's charging at you!"
"Ugh! Indeed, the path of gourmet is rugged!"
The five unfamiliar students were pouring bullets towards a pot with a fish sticking its head out.
"......"
Yuuka blankly watched that scene, put down what she was holding on the floor, and opened her mouth.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
The pizza and shopping bag rolled on the floor.
Comments (0)
Please log in to leave a comment. Login or Register